glossy shine

I’m jumping my own queue here (and even then it’s a little late, heh) because MAC is Beauty was launched before the Huggables but I haven’t mentioned that yet… Oops.

Though MAC is Beauty has been out for a bit so I figured maybe I’ll take this time to spotlight the Huggables first since they are relatively a little newer and my installment on them is shorter and quicker to get done.

Afterwhich, I’ll get back to MAC is Beauty for archiving purposes because, you know MAC. What goes around comes around again, ha!

So, Huggable!

What an adorable name for this collection, right?

Now, based on my limited knowledge of MAC’s alternate lip ranges, because their original range is enough of a selection to keep you busy already, I believe the Huggables have been launched before and this is perhaps their second time taking the stage?

I could be wrong… but eitherways if you’re not too familiar with thy Huggables then listen up!

The formulation & texture –

In MAC’s logic, when it comes to dressing your lips, you should never compromise on shine for color so that’s what you get with the Huggables – a high-shine and glossy finish paired with a juicy kick of color, especially so for the bolder shades.

The formulation is akin to the trend ‘sheer but not actually that sheer‘ lipstick ranges that seem to be all the rage right now. Though I’m not complaining because when it comes to day-to-day lip choices, I seem to reach for formulas like that the most.

The translucent nature makes them easy to slap on and there’s enough of a color kick for some vibrance yet not too much that it makes me feel overly ‘made up’.

On top of that, the emollient and balmy nature of such ranges, paired with a glossy finish, also makes the wear more comfortable and natural. Well, if you can call a juicy and glossy cherry-red lip look natural, that is.

At this point, the Huggables sound a lot like the usual ‘sheer-er’ lipstick ranges but what sets it apart is all in their name, that the Huggables are… well, lip-hugging!

It’s a formulation and texture that I find intriguing and new in my time of playing around with lipsticks.

The lipstick is soft, gel-like and emollient such that it has this soft buttery texture once warmed up but unlike the sleek glide you get with lipsticks of such formulation, this tends to grip and hug the lips with a balmy wrap as you lay color down.

I don’t call it tugging, cause unlike dry mattes it doesn’t cause the same lip pulling effect but it doesn’t just slide on without a care either. For the better or worst, it’s really your preference.

But it is intriguing.

While other translucent and emollient lip colors slide and glide on easier, they wear off incredibly quick too since they have a higher slip but these Huggables aren’t having any of that.

To the point that some have noted a ‘heavier’ balmy finish on the lips that they’re not used to but I personally am a fan of that balmy finish (the balmier the better, heh) so it’s not a problem with me.

As with most lip products that are formulated for long-wear, you will feel some tact with wear but it’s not as much of a hair magnet as some glosses are, and you would only be reminded of the tact when you press your lips together.

Though the itty bitty downside is that ultimately, this is still a glossy, translucent and juicy lip color, not an intensely pigment-loaded matte lipstick or lip-adhering lipstain so the wear to these Huggables cannot be compared with those.

While MAC claims a 6 hour wear, which I don’t doubt if you have this on without interference, they will wear out once you’ve had food and drinks.

The up-side though is the fade looks natural (no funky color ring around the lips) and the more intense shades do leave a soft whisper of life on the lips, but you’d likely be reaching for a touch-up by then so… yeap.

Now with all that rambling about the formula and how this lipstick wears all ironed out, let’s talk about the colors involved with this release.

The Colors! –

There are a total of 10 colors released with the 2015 Huggables collection and these shades are, sadly, Limited Edition.

While the selection isn’t huge, I think the colors cover a good enough spectrum, touching on wearable neutrals (and pretty nudes) along with a range of vibrant shades from blue-pinks to cherry-reds and also my favorite, a tangy orange.

Of the 10, I have 4 shades on hand to show (that I have been showing, ha) – Soft Talkin’, I’m Game, Flaming Lips and Love Feeling.

The rest of the shades see a nice mix of rosey colors, dusty colors, mauvey colors and more brick-toned reds, as seen in my swatches (without labelings, oops) here.

As I always say when it comes to translucent finish lip shades, hand swatches are never the best judge since the translucent nature of it makes it swatch a little more muted and less exciting on the hands, somehow.

So do stay tuned for the lip swatch / look book entry to come, alright?

Though meanwhile, for representation purposes, here’s how they look.

So anyway, this entry is getting too long for its own good so I’m going to let you guys off but do remember that the Huggables are Limited Edition so if you spy a shade that you may like, or think the formula has piqued your interest then don’t hesitate! Head down to your nearest MAC counter now!

Thanks for reading!

MAC’s Huggable Lip Colors are available in 10 shades and retail at S$30.